«You cannot evict an idea whose time has come»

The «occupy» movement is catching fire across the world and has achieved a radical shift in the way we think about our politics. Now, the world is asking, how can the movement win?

From New York to London, politicians and the police have been bought off to protect corporate interests. They are forcibly evicting the peaceful protesters from public spaces and discrediting the movement in the media as «dirty hippies» and «violent criminals» with no clear agenda. It’s not hard to see why they’re nervous: the occupiers have sparked a vital battle of ideas, and the corrupt, elite 1% stand to lose everything.

Now, it’s make or break time! Let’s help the movement win by funding a major global opinion poll in dozens of countries that clearly shows this is not a fringe movement that can be crushed, but a political project with massive public support.

The poll will supercharge the movement and offer both a united vision and the mass-based public legitimacy it needs to take on and take down the system that feeds the 1%. The need is urgent — if 10,000 of us donate a small amount now, we’ll have enough to run this poll by next week and take this battle to the next level: The 99% speak out

It’s been three years since the financial crash exposed the greed and recklessness that drives our financial system and destroys our economies. We are losing jobs, homes, and benefits, yet politicians continue to throw public money to keep big banks afloat to speculate and hand out fat bonuses. The 1% get their way every day, through massive spending on lobbyists, revolving door networks with current and former politicians and using the media to spread threats and fear.

Enough is enough! We know ordinary people working together can shake even the most entrenched powers – we’ve seen it over and over this year. In the last two months the occupiers’ message has resonated in homes, bars, and workplaces everywhere – people are beginning to speak out against the rotten financial and political systems that wreck our democracies. And, forced to cover the protests in real time, our media can’t help but examine the abuses of power that many thought would remain invisible and unshakable.

Change is in the air. It’s 1968 all over again. From Madrid, to Rio, to New York, Avaazers have joined the movement, signed a 750,000-strong pledge of solidarity, called politicians to stop the evictions, and donated critical gear and supplies. But now, to win, we must show that this movement is truly global and represents millions speaking with one clear and powerful voice. If just 10,000 of us donate today we can roll out this poll fast and plaster the media with our united message for change.

Occupy Wall Street will soon have a soundtrack. Participants in the protest movement said Wednesday that they are putting out a benefit album with music from Third Eye Blind, David Crosby and Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, DJ Logic, Ladytron and others.

Jason Samel, a musician who is putting together the disc, says the goal is to raise between $1 million and $2 million to help fuel the movement that is protesting income disparity. It will be available this winter, at first in digital form only.

When police come the occupiers chant – «You cannot evict an idea whose time has come.» And you can’t silence the billions of us across the whole world that make up the 99%. Let’s do what we can now – contribute to power up the movement and embolden and intensify its muscle to win!